NATIONAL
UPDATES:
1. Chief minister of Punjab
launched "Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana":
The chief minister of Punjab has launched a universal health insurance
scheme "Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana " benefiting nearly 46
lakh families. With this scheme, covering 76% of the state’s population. Punjab
has become the first state in the country to offer medical insurance cover to
the maximum number of its people. The scheme would entitle beneficiaries to
avail annual cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year, including
pre-existing diseases.
Note:
Chief Minister of Punjab : Amarinder Singh; Governor of
Punjab: VP Singh Badnore.
2. Maharashtra Transport Minister
launches live tracking system for MSRTC buses:
Maharashtra Transport Minister Diwakar Raote has launched a tracking
system for MSRTC buses. It will allow people to have real-time
information about their commute. Currently, it is ready on the
Mumbai-Nashik route for all Shivneri buses, the premium brand of MSRTC. The
cost of the project, including the deployment of GPS machines, tracking
software, and putting up screens to display information at bus stops, is 32
crore rupees. The mechanism will help the corporation to efficiently deploy
services, inform passengers about delays, and provide the driver information
about congestion on the route and suggest alternatives.
Note:
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has around 18,515
buses in its fleet and carries more than 67 lakh passengers daily.
3. Railway Board orders strict
plastic ban from 2nd October: Railway
Board has asked all its zonal offices to enforce a strict
plastic ban at all stations from 2nd October 2019. As per the
circular, all zonal railway offices should enforce a ban on
single-use plastic. The staff should be encouraged to use inexpensive
reusable plastic bags when possible and refuse plastic in most cases. IRCTC
should implement the return of plastic drinking water bottles and plastic
bottle crushing units should be procured as fast as possible.
Note:
The Railway Board is the apex body of the Indian Railways. It
reports to the Parliament of India through the Ministry of Railways headed by
the Railway Minister of India; Chairman: Vinod Kumar Yadav
4. Wipro Partners with IISc to
form ‘WIRIN’: Wipro Limited has entered into a
strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
for advanced applied research in autonomous systems, robotics and 5G space. Wipro
IISc Research and Innovation Network (WIRIN), a hybrid industry-academia
collaboration unit, which will drive idea discovery, research and innovation in
technology and product design. WIRIN will focus on the research and development
of cutting-edge technologies in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning,
Visual Computing, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Vehicle-to-everything
communication (V2X).
Note:
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Wipro: Abidali Z. Neemuchwala.
5. SMVDU, NISE sign MoU to
achieve national solar mission: Shri Mata Vaishno
Devi University (SMVDU), Jammu and National Institute of Solar Energy
(NISE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work jointly to
achieve the objective of National Solar Mission through training
programmes.
Note:
International Solar Alliance is an alliance of more than 121
countries, most of them being sunshine countries. Headquarters of
International Solar Alliance: Gurugram, Haryana.
INTERNATIONAL
UPDATES:
1. PM Modi holds delegation-level
talks with Zambian President: Zambian
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu arrived in New Delhi on
a three-day visit to India. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi held delegation-level talks with Zambian President Lungu in New
Delhi. Several agreements are also expected to be signed after
the talks. The visiting dignitary will also participate in an India-Zambia
Business Forum. With investments of over 5 billion US dollars, India
is one of the largest investors in Zambia. President Lungu's
visit will provide an opportunity to further energize India's mutually
beneficial partnership with Zambia.
Note:
The Republic of Zambia (Southern African country) Capital: Lusaka,
Currency: Zambian kwacha
2. World Senior Citizen's Day:
21st August: The World Senior Citizen's Day is
celebrated on the 21st of August every year. The main purpose of the World
Senior Citizen's Day is to raise awareness of the condition of older
people and to support them throughout the ageing process. It was first
proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 14th December
1990.
3. International Day of
Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism: 21st August:
The International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of
Terrorism is being observed on 21st August in order to honour the
victims and survivors of terrorism. The International Day of Remembrance and
Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism was established by the United Nations
General Assembly in 2017. In 2017 alone, nearly three-quarters of all deaths
caused by terrorism were in just five countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria,
Somalia and Syria. The day is meant to allow victims of terrorism to have their
needs supported and their rights upheld.
OTHER
UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Para swimmer Satendra Singh
Lohia crosses America's Catalina Channel: Divyang
Satendra Singh Lohia has become the first Asian swimmer to cross the Cataline
Channel of America. Satendra holds the Asian record of crossing both the
English and Catalina channels. Gwalior born Satendra led the Indian Para Relay
team along with five teammates crossed the Catalina Channel in 11 hours 34
minutes. Satyendra has also honoured with the Vikram Award, the highest sports
award in Madhya Pradesh.
2. Sreesanth's life-ban reduced
to seven years: BCCI Ombudsman Justice DK Jain has
passed an order reducing the life ban imposed on cricketer S Sreesanth
(36-years) to seven years. The ombudsman in his order also observes that BCCI
has nothing on record to prove its finding that the cricketer’s conduct was
erratic on and off the field. In effect, Sreesanth will be eligible to play all
forms of cricket from 13th September 2020. Sreesanth was banned by the BCCI for
a lifetime in August 2013 along with his Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit
Chandila and Ankeet Chavan for indulging in alleged spot-fixing in the Indian
Premier League (IPL) that year.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. IIT Delhi Startup's
Multisensory Kit wins National Disability Award:
Ms Ankita Gulati,
founder of TouchVision, an IIT Delhi incubated startup working on the design
and development of inclusive learning resources for visually impaired people has
won the NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Award 2019, which is given away every
year to those who have been doing exemplary work towards the cause of
accessibility and thus ensuring a life of equality and dignity for people with
disabilities. Ms Gulati got this award for developing a
multisensory kit which narrates the content in the raised picture when a
visually impaired person touches it.
Note:
TouchVision aims at digital inclusion for 253 million persons with visual
impairment globally. Touch-friendly graphics are read with the help of a
smartphone application. The smartphone app provides simultaneous audio to the
user as per index finger's location. Label and description of the diagrams are
narrated based on different finger gestures performed by the user.
2. Indian-American teen wins
South Asian Spelling Bee competition 2019: Navneeth
Murali, an Indian-American teenager from New Jersey, has won the 2019
South Asian Spelling Bee contest. The prize money for this contest
is USD 3,000.
Note:
The South Asian Spelling Bee (SASB) is an annual spelling bee platform in the
US for children of South Asian descent. The competition is open to any student
at or below the age of 14, who has at least one parent or grandparent who is of
South Asian descent, or whose lineage can be traced to Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and/or Sri Lanka.
DEFENCE
1. DRDO transfer design of Mobile Metallic Ramp to Indian Army: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over the design of Mobile Metallic Ramp (MMR) to the Indian Army at a ceremony held at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi. MMR load-bearing capacity of 70 metric ton. The MMR has been designed and developed by DRDO’s premier research laboratory Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) on the requirements projected by Army for reducing the Strategic Mobility time of mobilizing Armoured Fighting Vehicles. The ramp will provide the strategic mobility for Armoured and Mechanized units and formations of the Army. It is portable, modular in design, which can be easily assembled or disassembled.
OBITUARIES
1. Former Madhya Pradesh CM
Babulal Gaur passes away: Veteran Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal
Gaur (89-years) passed away in Bhopal. Gaur served as the Chief Minister
of Madhya Pradesh from August 2004 to November 2005. He was elected in 10
Assembly elections from the seat of Govindpura (in Bhopal) before retiring from
electoral politics in 2018 due to old age
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